Although the use of corporal punishment has declined over the
years, 20 states, including Georgia, still allow it.

In Georgia, dozens of school systems still have policies on
the books dating back to the late 1960s when paddling was a more
accepted form of punishment.

Although legal, several school systems no longer do it,
according to school administrators.

"While the policy is on the books, it is not one that
we're still using," said Ken Greene, director of student
services for Barrow County Schools.

Administrators and teachers have a "menu" of more
effective options to use in place of corporal punishment, ranging
from loss of extracurricular activities and privileges to
suspensions and expulsion, Greene said.

"Principals have other choices they can use other than
corporal punishment," he said.

"While it is an option on the menu, and an option they
might be able to use, they are able to find other corrective
actions that meet the need as well as or better.

"There's not been a compelling reason to take it out,
even though it has fallen to rare or no use in the last four
years or so. I think it's one of those things - it's legal; it's
a state law that it could be used if it was needed."

Each district's policy differs slightly, but each contains
similar language that stipulates corporal punishment should not
be "excessive" or "unduly severe," and must
provide the child's parents a written explanation with the
reasons for the punishment.

About two dozen organizations are backing the proposed ban,
including the ACLU, NAACP, National Association of Secondary
School Principals, Human Rights Watch and the Gwinnett Parent
Coalition to Dismantle the School to Prison Pipeline.

Not everyone believes corporal punishment is an antiquated
method of discipline.

State Rep. Tommy Benton, R-Jefferson, a former social studies
teacher from Georgia's Jackson County, said he used to use
corporal punishment 20 years ago and still believes it can be
effective today.

"I'm not opposed to it at all. I think just the threat of
it, most of the time, is enough to keep students in line -
especially those that would cause a lot of trouble. But you take
that threat away, and there's nothing.

"It just nips that discipline problem in the bud. I had
used it, and I didn't usually have to do it more than one
time."

The vote reflected the majority's belief that second-guessing
a previous board's decision with no change in research justifying
it would be irresponsible.

Whalum has drummed up support on talk radio and conducted a
town hall forum where he says teachers pressed him on the need
for corporal punishment.

On Monday, he asked if the board's meeting was being televised
and then turned to talk to the TV audience, telling them they
were seeing "democracy in action."

"I don't think there was ever any question that the
resolution would pass," he said, telling the audience he
"wanted to speak to the teachers."

"I told you this would happen. This is not a mystery.
This is democracy. This board makes policy. They control it, I
don't, and apparently, you don't either. It's up to you."

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Whalum brought the issue up last month, drawing national
attention, including a threat from detentionslip.com, an
education news website, to call for a boycott of Memphis if
corporal punishment were reinstated.

"If it worked, why would we have to continue to use that
punishment on the exact same people over and over again?"
board member Patrice Robinson asked.

And then she took Whalum to task, telling him that leadership
means making decisions and being accountable for them and not
running to poll the public and hiding behind the skirts of their
wishes.

"The reason the public appoints or elects board members
is to look at the research and then make the best decision. When
you ask the people, you are not taking personal responsibility;
you are not actually representing them," she said.
"People need to know why we make decisions. We as a board
have to take personal accountability for our own actions."

Robinson is the only member who was on the board when it
dropped corporal punishment. She cast the deciding vote.

Twenty states have outlawed corporal punishment. The majority
that allow it are in the South.

Betty Mallott joined Whalum in support of taking the issue to
a full voting meeting of the board.

Mallott later asked, without explanation, if she could change
her vote. Parliamentary rules did not allow it.